Spiritual Counseling for Addicts in Recovery

WEST CAPE MAY – Persons addicted to heroin and other opiates or alcohol often have an underlying problem that is the root of their substance dependency.
Until that cause is found, faced and surmounted, recovery cannot take place.
Frank and Beth Walls know that, and use it as one of their guiding principles in their Substance Abuse Ministry located here and in
Atlantic City.
The couple offers help for persons and families who are confronting drug and alcohol-related problems. They offer service around the clock on all days.
The Walls know the need is real, since there are many who use heroin, and want to quit but cannot. They have made many calls to physicians’ offices throughout the county, but thus far, they have had very few referrals.
Regardless, they offer help to those who want it. Frank has experienced what he counsels.
“I have been clean and sober for 42 years,” he said. His trouble began when he was employed by General Electric and lived in Valley Forge, Pa. “I was sent to rehab through the court system,” he said during an interview at the Herald office. He was successful in recovering at Norristown State Hospital in its long-term inpatient program. Because of that success, he was asked to “come back and volunteer my time talking to patients.”
Several psychologists there suggested he attend school for his skill. As a result, he obtained a degree from LaSalle and went to work in a 60-bed detox unit at St. Luke Hospital, Philadelphia. After that, he worked in a 40-bed facility in North Philadelphia for men getting out of prison. After that, he worked at a private psychiatric clinic in Horsham where he was involved in mental health, drug and alcohol counseling. Then, in 1980, he went to Fairmont Institute, which opened a 60-bed drug and alcohol program.
Beth is a certified music therapist. That is a means used to assist persons with a variety of problems, since a song might open up their mind to heal an old wound and allow recovery to begin.
The Walls have been in West Cape May since 1993. In addition to their local office for counseling, they have a similar one on Mississippi Avenue in Atlantic City.
Frustrated at the lack of referrals, Beth rattled off names of places she had visited and offices seen, all of them seeming positive and appreciative, but with no referrals.
“With all these drugs and addicts around here, and Beth knocks on all those people’s doors,” puzzled Frank. Rarely does she get to speak directly to a physician, but instead to office managers.
“They say there is a problem in the county, so glad to have us around, and that they will keep our information handy, and that is it,” said Beth.
Frank estimated the couple sees five patients per week. Most a combination of drug addicts and alcoholics, he said. As with anyone addicted to any substance, Walls declared, “If you don’t get to the core issues of people’s root issues, these people will never get better. That’s been my experience for over 40 years. All this methadone and short-term programs, none of it is going to work, it is not working,” Frank said.
Many addiction problems began in childhood or with childhood memories, he said. “Many have spiritual issues, basically low self-esteem and trauma from their childhood,” he continued. As addicts and their families know well there is no place in Cape May County for in-patient rehabilitation. Once those childhood incidents take hold, “progression starts. That turns into anxiety and depression. Anxiety causes depression. People get burned out, they have panic attacks,” said Frank.
“They will wear themselves out if they are not taken care of,” he said. “That is where people start looking for relief.”
Many attempt to self-medicate. They may begin with alcohol or marijuana, he added. Commonly, those lead to family or employment issues, then to legal problems, Frank said. “Eventually, they will get physically ill and get put in a hospital, and then they get physically addicted to some drug. If they do not stop using drugs and alcohol to deal with the emotional and social problems,” woes escalate.
Frank knows that Alcoholics Anonymous’ Twelve Step program works, chiefly because it relies on a spiritual power greater than oneself. The Walls realize that the county and state must come to grips, in a comprehensive way, of dealing with those “core issues” in order to eradicate the problem of drug abuse.
Children of parents who are or were alcoholics or drug addicts are more likely to become one themselves, Wall noted.
“When I got sober, the idea was in rehabs was ‘let’s help people,’ and they may make money. Now, it’s let’s make money and maybe some will get help,” said Frank.
“We see a lot of recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, and a lot are disgusted,” he added.
Licensing to become a counselor in New Jersey is so difficult; Walls said many shun the field.
He cited an acquaintance who was highly qualified from another state, but found it
So hard to get certified after six years in recovery, he gave it up,” Walls said.
The man did not want to pursue it any longer, and Walls believed that person would have made an excellent counselor.
Sessions with Walls last about an hour. Payment is on sliding scale, he said. “This is not about making any kind of money,” he added. Walls believes that is needed to address the drug problem is to form a group that consists of religious, legal, medical and some recovering addicts. Once formed, he believes that group would have to “Get together monthly to solve this problem that is going on. ”
(ED. NOTE: Substance Abuse Ministry may be reached at (609) 364-0035.)